Key Points
Sister Joseph Gladys, the head of the health center says, "We administer antivenom treatment to patients bitten by venomous snakes, while we also utilize black stone or snake stone treatment for cases of non-venomous snake bites."..
Experts are noting the correlation between the increasing incidence of snakebites and extreme weather patterns.Climate change-induced extreme weather conditions have intensified in Bihar, rendering both humans and animals increasingly vulnerable to the challenges of adapting to a changing climate," explains Dr. "Animals, lacking proper adaptive mechanisms, often exhibit abnormal behaviour in response to such extreme weather conditions," he adds..
Dharmendra Sinha, Secretary General of the Indian Veterinary Association and director of the Institute of Animal Health & Production, highlights the problem of insufficient data on livestock and pet deaths or disabilities caused by snakebites in Bihar...
Government health facilities in snakebite management fail due to resource disorganisation, insufficient training of healthcare workers, and patient preference for faith healers over medical professionals, leading to treatment delays, he says.. ..
The human health component includes ensuring the supply of anti-snake venom at all health facilities, strengthening surveillance of snake bite cases and deaths in humans, strengthening emergency care services at District Hospitals/ CHCs including services for ambulances, institutionalisation of Regional Venom Centres and inter-sectoral coordination..
